How to solve it by computer
by R. G. Dromey · first published 1982
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A plain-language, approachable guide to problem solving in programming, modeled on Polya's math classic. It covers designing algorithms and structuring solutions.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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For a different but useful approach, one book I liked is: How to Solve it by Computer - by R. G. Dromey, a lecturer or professor at a university in Australia, IIRC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_it_by_Computer Acording to Wikipedia (and also mentioned in his book, IIRC),…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite data structures book?” ↗…them, and read others at different times later in my career. How to Solve It, by Georg Polya. A famous Hungarian mathematician. A text on general problem solving principles or techniques. A classic. How to Solve It by Computer, by Dromey, an AU CS professor. In the same spirit as the Polya book, but applied to iteratively working out algorithms and pseudocode for common important programming problems. The K&R C book. What…
on “Ask HN: What are the most eye-opening textbooks you have ever read?” ↗And if you're specifically trying to design an algorithm, you might look into "How to Solve It by Computer" by R.G. Dromey, which was inspired by the former: http://www.amazon.com/Solve-Computer-Prentice-Hall-Internati...
on “Ask HN: How do you solve hard problems if you can't make incremental progress?” ↗I read "How to Solve it by Computer" by R G Dromey, which is based on Polya's book is excellent too. Solving HTSIBC problems in Clojure may teach one a lot of Clojure IMHO.
on “Clojure Conj Reading List” ↗Cool - next they should try "How to Solve it by computer" (http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Prentice-Hall-International-S...)
on “SICP translated to JavaScript” ↗…structures like trees. 2 books that have helped me mainly because they are written in simple language and make the topics seem approachable : 1) Polya's "How to solve it" which is math oriented 2) Dromey's "How to solve it by computer" which is programming oriented and inspired by Polya's book.
on “Can I really do it?” ↗Another book like this: "How to solve it by computer" see: http://www.amazon.com/Solve-Computer-Prentice-Hall-Internati...
on “Ask HN: Coding assignments for kids” ↗Beat me to it. Saw the thread only now. Also: How to Solve it by Computer - by Dromey. It's like the programmers' version of the Pólya book. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_it_by_Computer
on “Ask HN: How to become better at problem solving?” ↗I was going to mention Polya's book, but you did first. There is also Dromey's How to Solve it by Computer, which was inspired by Polya's book. I have both, from quite a while ago, and think both are good. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_It https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_it_by_Computer
on “Ask HN: Can math books help you become good at problem solving in general?” ↗…BTW, for others who might not know, it is not applicable just to math (although Polya was a mathematician). It's good for general problem solving. And there is a book that was inspired by it, called How to Solve it by Computer. I had and read that one too. It is very good too. See descriptions of both books below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_It https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_It#Influence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_it_by_Computer
on “Holding a Program in One's Head (2007)” ↗…but very informative: - Annotated Turing by Petzold - Code by Petzold Maybe influential? - Designing Data Intensive Applications by Kleppmann - Digital Design and Computer Architecture by Harris - How to Solve It by Computer - Algorithms + Data Structures = Programs by Wirth
on “Influential books on Computer Science and programming” ↗That Polya book is very good. [1] [2] I had read it many years ago. It may be influential beyond what people know. There is a version inspired by it, for programming, called How to Solve it by Computer [3], by R. G. Dromey, who, IIRC, was/is a professor at an Australian university (Wollongong?). I had the Dromey book. It is not exactly parallel to the Polya book, because it shows the details of how…
on “Ask HN: How to self-learn math?” ↗There are a few books that could do with a javascript or Python "translation". "How to solve it by computer" is one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_it_by_Computer
on “BASIC Computer Games (1978)” ↗2) Translate "How to Solve it by Computer" from Pascal to Python. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_it_by_Computer 3) Fork Wikipedia. I'd have inclusion criteria for what I wanted to include (STEM; other academic stuff) and I would…
on “Ask HN: What would you do with $25,000?” ↗How to Solve it by Computer was popular (probably still is in some places) but uses Pascal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_it_by_Computer
on “Ask HN: Recommendations for a book about algorithms and data structures?” ↗